The Pledge of Allegiance of the United States of America

« I pledge allegiance

to the Flag

of the United States of America,

and to the Republic

for which it stands:

one Nation

under God,

indivisible,

with liberty

and justice

for all »

     The Pledge of Allegiance of the United States is an expression of allegiance to the Flag of the United States and the republic of the United States of America, originally composed by Colonel George Balch in 1887, later revised by Francis Bellamy in 1892 and formally adopted by Congress as the pledge in 1942. The official name of The Pledge of Allegiance was adopted in 1945. The last change in language came on Flag Day 1954 when the words "under God" were added.

     The Pledge was supposed to be quick and to the point. Bellamy designed it to be recited in 15 seconds.

     On September 8, 1892 a Boston-based youth magazine "The Youth's Companion" published a 22-word recitation for school children to use during planned activities the following month to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Columbus' discovery of America. Under the title "The Pledge to the Flag", the composition was the earliest version of what we now know as the Pledge Of Allegiance.

     After the Columbus Day celebration the Pledge to the Flag became a popular daily routine in America's public schools.

1892 to 1923 (first version)

"I pledge allegiance to my Flag and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all".

1923

"I pledge allegiance to my the Flag of the United States and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all".

1924 to 1954

"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all".

     The last change in the Pledge of Allegiance occurred on June 14 (Flag Day), 1954 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower approved adding the words "under God". As he authorized this change he said: "In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in America's heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our country's most powerful resource in peace and war".

     This was the last change made to the Pledge of Allegiance. The 23 words what had been initially penned for a Columbus Day celebration now comprised a Thirty-one profession of loyalty and devotion to not only a flag, but to a way of life....the American ideal.

1954 (current version)

"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands: one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all".

     Let's examine these 31 words a little more thoroughly:

I Pledge Allegiance I Promise to be faithful and true (Promise my loyalty),

to the flag to the emblem that stands for and represents,

of the United States all 50 states, each of them individual, and individually represented on the flag,

of America yet formed into a UNION of one Nation,

and to the Republic And I also pledge my loyalty to the Government that is itself a Republic, a form of government where the PEOPLE are sovereign,

for which it stands, this government also being represented by the Flag to which I promise loyalty,

one Nation under God, These 50 individual states are united as a single Republic under the Divine providence of God, "our most powerful resource" (according to the words of President Eisenhower),

Indivisible, and can not be separated. (This part of the original version of the pledge was written just 30 years after the beginning of the Civil War and demonstrates the unity sought in the years after that divisive period in our history),

with Liberty The people of this Nation being afforded the freedom to pursue "life, liberty, and happiness",

and Justice And each person entitled to be treated justly, fairly, and according to proper law and principle,

for All. And these principles afforded to EVERY AMERICAN, regardless of race, religion, color, creed, or any other criteria.   Just as the flag represents 50 individual states that can not be divided or separated, this Nation represents millions of people who can not be separated or divided.

Thus it is that when you Pledge Allegiance to the United States Flag, You:

Promise your loyalty to the Flag itself.

Promise your loyalty to your own and the other 49 States.

Promise your loyalty to the Government that unites us all,

Recognizing that we are ONE Nation under God,

That we can not or should not be divided or alone, 

And understanding the right to Liberty and Justice belongs to ALL of us.

For a better reconstruction of the facts:
http://www.homeofheroes.com/hallofheroes/1st_floor/flag/1bfc_pledge.html .